New Orleans Maritime & Admiralty Law Attorneys

Jones Act Seamen

Injuries or deaths that occur on or near navigable waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River, are usually governed by "admiralty" or "maritime" laws.

One of those laws, the “Jones Act”, provides special rights to a seaman or member of the crew of a vessel to sue his employer for damages as the result of injuries caused by the employer’s negligence. An injured seaman is also entitled to make a claim under the general maritime law against the owner or operator of the vessel for any defect or unsafe condition of the vessel or its equipment – known as an “unseaworthy” condition – that causes his injury. Read more.

Other Maritime Workers

Maritime workers who do not qualify as Jones Act seamen may have other maritime remedies available to them in the event of injury or death on or near navigable waters.

For example, longshoremen, workers involved in shipbuilding or vessel repair, harbor workers and workers aboard fixed platforms on the outer continental shelf are entitled to disability and medical benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA). These workers, or their families, can also sue vessel owners and operators or other third parties for the negligence that caused their accident and injury or death. Read more.